Hatch cover comprising two section halves



Sept. 22, 1964 B. JERICIJO HATCH COVER COMPRISING TWO SECTION HALVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 14, 1962 p 1964 I B. JERICIJO 3,149,604

HATCH COVER COMPRISING TWO SECTION HALVES Filed Nov. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,149,604 HATCH COVER COMPRISING TWO SECTION HALVES Boris Jericijo, Goteborg, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Gotaverken, Goteborg, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Nov. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 237,698 Claims priority, application Sweden, Dec. 13, 1961, 12,43$/61 Claims. (Cl. 114-202) For the closing of ships hatchways there are already several constructions known, both of the type comprising sections foldably connected to the coaming and such comprising sections which are free in relation to the coaming. In certain cases one may demand an easy access to the hatchway for loading and unloading apparatuses and for the supervision of the work done therewith. For this sake it is undesirable to have the sections raised in a vertical position, where they will block the opening and it has been proposed a construction in which the hatch cover sections are movable essentially in the horizontal plane outwards from the hatchway.

The present invention relates to a hatch cover comprising two section halves meeting each other at the longitudinal middle plane of the opening and which in connection with the uncovering of the opening are moved laterally.

One object of the invention is to provide guiding means for such cover sections, which will facilitate an easy operation of the cover.

A further object of the invention is to provide supporting means for the cover sections when they are in open position.

A further object of the invention is to provide extensible guiding means at the coarning in such a manner that the sections will be fully supported even when they are moved completely outside the opening.

A further object of the invention lies in arranging the guiding parts in such a manner that they Will not be accidentally damaged.

A still further object is to design the sections in such a manner that parts thereof may be folded down to form supports and another object is to provide guides for such folded down sections, when closing the cover.

With these objects in view the present invention is mainly characterized by two cover sections adapted to rest on said coaming and in closed position having inner longitudinal sides meeting each other at the longitudinal middle line of the opening and outer longitudinal and transverse sides corresponding to those of the coaming, means for moving said sections laterally, essentially in the horizontal plane, a first track having an upwardly facing guiding surface and a second track having a downwardly facing guiding surface at each of the transverse sides of the coaming, a pair of supporting wheels at the transverse sides of each section fitted a distance from the inner longitudinal side thereof and adapted for cooperation with said first tracks and arms at the corners of the inner sides of each section extending away therefrom and having antifriction members adapted for cooperation with said second tracks, said outwardly extending arms cooperating with said downwardly facing tracks in such manner that during opening and closing movements of a cover section the weight of said cover section is carried by the wheels and antifriction members only.

The novel features which are characteristic'for the invention are shown on the accompanying drawings, in

which: 7 v

FIGURE 1 is a schematic representati n of a portion of the deck showing two hatchways and the maneuvering device for the opening and the closing of the hatches.

FIGURE 2 is a detail picture of part of one of the transverse sides of the coaming with one section in open position.

FIGURE 3 shows part of one of the transverse sides of the coaming with a modified type of cover sections in closed position.

FIGURE 4 shows one section of last mentioned type in open position.

In the ships deck 1 there is a row of hatchways surrounded by coamings having longitudinal and transverse sides. Each opening is covered by two sections, 2 and 3, respectively, each extending over one half of the opening. Their inner longitudinal sides meet each other at the longitudinal middle line of the opening. In connection with the uncovering of the hatchway the sections are moved laterally outwards, essentially in the horizontal plane. They are coupled together in a manner, more precisely described in connection with FIG- URE 3, so, that they are moving simultaneously inwards and outwards, respectively. In order to perform the desired movement there is a wire 4 or belt shaped as an endless loop, running over suitable pulleys and driven by a Windlass 6. By means of a turnbuckle device the wire can be stretched sufiicient for the desired action to be obtained. To said endless wire loop shorter wire strops 7 may be connected, which are adapted to be attached to suitable members 8 and 9, respectively, arranged on the sections. If a wire strop is attached to member 8, both sections are pulled outwards from the middle line and if the wire strop, during the next operation, is attached to member 9, both sections are moved towards each other.

In FIG. 1 the details of arms, tracks, pulleys and wires for obtaining simultaneous movement of two cooperating sections have not been shown for the sake of clarity, FIG. 1 being intended to show that an endless belt passing along several openings may be utilized for maneuvering the covers by connecting wire strops 7, 7, thereto at appropriate places. When the free ends of strops 7, 7 are connected to members 8, 8 the closed sections are opened, While if the strops 7, 7 are connected to members 9, 9 both open sections will be moved inwardly.

Each section is mainly supported by a pair of wheels 10 intended to run on a first set of tracks 11, arranged at the transverse sides of the coaming and having upwards turned guiding surfaces. The section is at its inner corners provided with arms 12 and 13, respectively, each provided with antifriction members in the form of rollers 14. The arms 12 cooperate with one, higher portion 15, of a second set of tracks and the arms 13 co-operate in a corresponding manner with the other, lower portion 16, of the same set at each of the trans verse sides of the coaming. This second set of tracks has downwards turned guiding surfaces. In order to make it possible for the sections to meet in such a manner that a suiiicient sealing is obtained the portions pass the longitudinal middle line, partly overlapping each other. The arms 12 are also designed to pass inside the arms 13.

To each arm 13 a first pulley member 17 is attached, which runs over a pulley 118 at the corner of the coaming and from there to the corresponding arm 12 at the same transverse side of the coaming. From this arm a second pulling member 19 extends, passing over a pulley arranged at the opposite corner of the coaming, not shown here, and reaches from there back to the firstmentioned, arm 13. It is evident that a pulling of the wire strop 7, from a position shown in FIGURE 3 moves section 3 outwards to the right, and that simultaneously the pulling mem ers l7 and 19, will move section 2 outwards. When the wire strop, in open position of the sections, is attached to member 9 and a pulling is applied to the right hand of section 2, this section as well as section 3 will move inwards to the middle of the hatch opening.

As shown in FIGURE 4 the hatch cover section 3 will during the opening movement be supported by the Wheels 10 and the rollers 14, arranged on arm 12. At the end of the opening movement, and especially when the hatch is open, it will be advantageous to let the overhung part of the section be supported by abutments cooperating with the deck. Such abutments can suitably be made in the form of supporting rods 20, swingably arranged on a pin 21 in the section. When the section is moved inwards over the hatch opening said rods will in co-operation with the longitudinal side of the coaming or with a guiding member attached to said part, automatically be moved up into a recess or groove in the section, and are then finally positioned as shown with dashed lines in FIGURE 3. The supporting rod can be so designed that it is prevented from swinging past the vertical line during the outwards movement, and its lower portion 22. can preferably be rounded or cup-shaped so that it will easily be located in a vertical position. In order to make it possible to uncover the whole hatch opening, which necessitates that the supporting wheels Iii are moved beyond the longitudinal sides of the coaming, the first set of tracks 11 are made extensible by means of pivotable parts 23 of suitable length to allow a desired lateral movement of the section. When the section is moved towards closed position these extended track portions, which are pivotable on pins 24-, are automatically turned into vertical position by the aid of counterweights or other guiding members. tion on the deck along the coaming. In the embodiment shown the track portions are so designed that they automatically tend to take a vertical position. During the movement of the sections outwards the track portions are pressed down by the outer transverse edges of the sections. A pair of smaller auxiliary wheels 29 on the undersides of the sections will keep the track portions in intended position until the supporting wheels have reached out on the same or have left them during the closing movement, respectively. The second setof guiding tracks and 16, respectively, for the rollers 14 are at their outer parts designed with a small recess 25 making it possible for the section in wholly open position to rest only on the supporting wheels it and on the rods 2%, so that the arms 12 and 13, respectively, will be disengaged. By this is avoided that a temporary placing of goods on the hatch section or any other unintentional incident, will cause so great stresses in the construction, that a deformation of the arms occurs which pos ibly would jeopardize intended functions. in Fl URE 2 a modification of the invention is shown, where the cover section is divided into two panels 26 and 27,

respectively. One of these has a breadth corresponding to the height measure of the coaming, so that this part can form the desired abutment. Other details such as the arm 12, the antifriction member 14, and the supporting wheel it? will be the same as in the first described embodiment. ln order automatically to move section panel 27 into a horizontal position during the closing movement a number of links 2% are provided, which form rounded guiding surfaces for the section part. These links can, as shown in dotted lines, in, disengaged position be moved into a protected position along the coaming side, where they do not block the way for transportation along the hatch coarning.

What I claim is: a

1.;A hatch cover construction comprising a coaming having longitudinal and transverse sides l'surrounding a hatchway in the deck of a ship In this position they do not prevent transporta-' two cover sections adapted to rest on said coaming and in closed position having inner longitudinal sides meeting each other at the longitudinal middle line of the opening and outer longitudinal and transverse sides corresponding to those of the coaming means for moving said sections laterally, essentially in the horizontal plane a first track having an upwardly facing guiding surface and a second track having a downwardly facing guiding surface at each of the transverse sides of the coaming a pair of supporting wheels at the transverse sides of each section fitted a distance from the inner longitudinal side thereof and adapted for cooperation with said first tracks and arms at the corners of the inner sides of each section extending away therefrom and having antifriction members adapted for cooperation with said second tracks, said outwardly extending arms cooperating with said downwardly facing tracks in such manner that during opening and closing movements of a cover section the weight of said cover section is carried by the wheels and antifriction members only.

2. A hatch cover construction comprising a coamingt having longitudinal and transverse sides surrounding a hatchway in the deck of a ship two cover sections adapted to rest on said coaming and in closed position having inner longitudinal sides meeting each other at the longitudinal middle line of the opening and outer longitudinal and transverse sides corresponding to those of the coaming means for moving said sections laterally, essentially in the horizontal plane a first track having an upwardly facing guiding surface at each of the transverse sides of the coaming a second track having downwardly facing guiding surfaces likewise at each of the transverse sides of the coaming, said second track being divided into two overlapping portions one portion being higher than the other portion, said portions extending from the opposite corners of the coaming, past the longitudinal middle line of the opening 7 a pair of supporting wheels at the transverse sides of each section fitted a distance from the inner longitudinal side thereof and adapted for cooperation with said first tracks and. armsat the corners of the inner sides of each section extending away therefrom and having antifric tion members adapted for cooperation with pertaining portions of said second tracks, the arms of one section thereby passing inside the arms of the other section, said outwardly extending arms cooperating with said downwardly facing tracks in such manner that during opening and closing movements of a cover section the weight of said cover section is carried by the wheels and antifriction members only.

3. A hatch cover construction comprising a coaming having longitudinal and transverse sides surrounding a hatchway in the deck of a ship two cover sections adapted to rest on said coaming and in closed position having inner longitudinal sides meeting each other at the longitudinal middle line of the opening and outer longitudinal and transverse sides corresponding to those of the coaming, means for moving said section laterally, essentially in the horizontal plane Y a first track having an upwardly facing guiding surface and a second track having a downwardly facing guiding surface at eachof the transverse sides f the coaming a pair of supporting wheels at the transverse sides of each section fitted a distance: from the inner longitudinal side thereof and adapted for cooperation with said first tracks arms at the corners of the inner sides of each section extending away therefrom and having antifriction members adapted for cooperation with said second tracks, said outwardly extending arms cooperating with said downwardly facing tracks in such manner that during opening and closing movements of a cover section the weight of said cover section is carried by the wheels and antifriction members only,

a recessed portion at the outer end of each of said second tracks,

and foldable abutments fitted to each section and adapted to support the outer part thereof from the deck when the cover is in open position, in such a manner that the antifriction members are prevented from reaching the bottom of the recessed portions of the second tracks.

4. A hatch cover construction comprising a coaming having longitudinal and transverse sides surrounding a hatchway in the deck of a ship first and second panels hinged together to form a cover section,

two such cover sections adapted to rest on said coaming and in closed position having inner longitudinal sides meeting each other at the longitudinal midde line of the opening and outer longitudinal and transverse sides corresponding to those of the coaming means for moving said sections laterally, essentially in the horizontal plane,

a first track having an upwardly facing guiding surface and a second track having a downwardly facing guiding surface at each of the transverse sides of the coaming a pair of supporting wheels at the transverse sides of each section fitted a distance from the inner longitudinal side thereof and adapted for cooperation with said first tracks and arms at the corners of the inner sides of each section extending away therefrom and having antifriction members adapted for cooperation with said second tracks, the transverse measure of said second panels corresponding to the height of the coaming, whereby they when folded downwards will rest upon the deck and support the open cover.

5. A hatch cover construction comprising a coaming having longitudinal and transverse sides surrounding a hatchway in the deck of a ship.

first and second panels hinged together to form a cover section two such cover sections adapted to rest on said coaming and in closed position having inner longitudinal sides meeting each other at the longitudinal middle line of the opening and outer longitudinal and transverse sides corresponding to those of the coaming means for moving said sections laterally, essentially in the horizontal plane a first track having an upwardly facing guiding surface and a second track having a downwardly facing guiding surface at each of the transverse sides of the coaming a pair of supporting wheels at the transverse sides of each section fitted a distance from the inner longitudinal side thereof and adapted for cooperation with said first tracks arms at the corners of the inner sides of each section extending away therefrom and having antifriction members adapted for cooperation with said second tracks, the transverse measure of said second panels corresponding to the height of the coaming, whereby they when folded downwards will rest upon the deck and support the open cover and links having rounded guiding surfaces at the longitudinal sides of the coaming for automatically transferring the second panels from a vertical to a horizontal position when closing the cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,072,611 Hayes Sept. 9, 1913 2,831,448 Suderow Apr. 22, 1958 2,843,422 Black July 15, 1958 2,869,501 Stransky Jan. 20, 1959 2,958,304 Arbib Nov. 1, 1960 2,965,062 Stransky Dec. 20, 1960 3,063,386 Price Nov. 13, 1962 

1. A HATCH COVER CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A COAMING HAVING LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE SIDES SURROUNDING A HATCHWAY IN THE DECK OF A SHIP TWO COVER SECTIONS ADAPTED TO REST ON SAID COAMING AND IN CLOSED POSITION HAVING INNER LONGITUDINAL SIDES MEETING EACH OTHER AT THE LONGITUDINAL MIDDLE LINE OF THE OPENING AND OUTER LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE SIDES CORRESPONDING TO THOSE OF THE COAMING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SECTIONS LATERALLY, ESSENTIALLY IN THE HORIZONTAL PLANE A FIRST TRACK HAVING AN UPWARDLY FACING GUIDING SURFACE AND A SECOND TRACK HAVING A DOWNWARDLY FACING GUIDING SURFACE AT EACH OF THE TRANSVERSE SIDES OF THE COAMING A PAIR OF SUPPORTING WHEELS AT THE TRANSVERSE SIDES OF EACH SECTION FITTED A DISTANCE FROM THE INNER LONGITUDINAL SIDE THEREOF AND ADAPTED FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID FIRST TRACKS AND ARMS AT THE CORNERS OF THE INNER SIDES OF EACH SECTION EXTENDING AWAY THEREFROM AND HAVING ANTIFRICTION MEMBERS ADAPTED FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID SECOND TRACKS, SAID OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ARMS COOPERATING WITH SAID DOWNWARDLY FACING TRACKS IN SUCH MANNER THAT DURING OPENING AND CLOSING MOVEMENTS OF A COVER SECTION THE WEIGHT OF SAID COVER SECTION IS CARRIED BY THE WHEELS AND ANTIFRICTION MEMBERS ONLY. 